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Two more British soldiers were killed in Iraq early yesterday - taking the death toll to four in three days.

Both men died when their patrol was hit by a roadside bomb on the outskirts of Basra.

The past week has been among the worst British forces have endured since the invasion - and has added fuel to claims that they are losing control of Basra.

British forces are currently in the process of withdrawing from the centre of the city and redeploying at an airport base outside.

The number of troops stationed there has already been reduced from 44,000 to 5,500.

The Iraqi authorities are supposed to be taking over in the city - but it has been claimed the British pullout is triggering a rapid descent into anarchy.

The two latest victims, both from the 1st Battalion Irish Guards, brings the total number of UK military deaths in Iraq since 2003 to 168. Their families have been informed. Two other soldiers were seriously injured in the blast.

Yesterday the MoD named a British serviceman shot dead in Basra on Tuesday as Leading Aircraftman Martin Beard, 20, of No 1 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment.

His devastated fiancee Nic was last night being comforted by family and friends at his home town of Rainworth, Notts.

Martin's Commanding Officer, Squadron Leader Jason Sutton, said: "He was outwardly a quiet man but this concealed a wicked sense of humour which would emerge at the most unexpected moments, usually when morale needed a lift."

Martin's colleague Leading Aircraftman Craig Richardson added: "He was a true friend and we will all miss him."

Leading Aircraftman Matthew Brown added: "I first met Beardy on our basic training. He was always up for going out with the lads and was a very happy person."

On Monday Private Craig Barber, 20, of 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh, was shot in the Al Fursi district of the city.

British commanders have rejected American claims that they have lost their grip on Basra.

But Lib Dem MP Mike Hancock, who sits on the Commons Defence Select Committee, said the situation was "absolutely appalling" - and urged the total withdrawal of British troops.

He added: "I just think we've lost the plot completely. We have now really got to address what is in the best interests of our soldiers, their families and the country.

"And that is to get our troops out of there. We are not going to win this battle in Iraq. The insurgency is getting stronger all the time."

Mr Hancock said British troops have never had Basra fully under control. He added: "You can't lose what you never had. The mission was flawed from day one because of the decisions that were taken before we even invaded."

President Bush is said to be increasingly concerned that Gordon Brown will announce within months that he is pulling UK forces out of Iraq.

The Prime Minister is due to make a statement to Parliament on the future strategy in October.